mandela would be 71 before the word would see him again. nelson mandela served one term as president and then retired from public life but continued to advocate for the causes important to him like the fight against aids and to meet with dignitaries from all over the world at his home. in june he was rushed to the hospital suffering from a recurring lung infection he first contracted in prison. he eventually went home but he remained in critical condition. >> mandela's life touched people all over the world, including right here in the d.c. area. >> back in october mandela's family, his friends, his long- time supporters gathered at the south african embassy on massachusetts avenue to see a statue of him dedicated there. last night it started to turn into a memorial. >> i don't think there was really anybody else like him. >> reporter: when the world loses someone like nelson mandela, tears fall and heads hang. >> i think we tried to prepare ourselves but emotionally it's not that easy. eight going for -- it's going to take a while for us t